The phrases “grand character villa” and “home with multiple incomes” seldom co-exist, but suit this sunny 1900s Parnell villa, offering a beautifully presented main home and three flats.
Wendy and husband Roger bought this property more than 30 years ago, impressed by its sun-soaked grandness, central location and the potential to evolve it further.
Wendy says: “It’s always felt like a magical place and we’ve felt like stewards of it, looking after a glorious character home. It’s been a happy home for us and welcomed many tenants over the years, who’ve made it their home too.”
Roger says: “One of the things that was very unusual about it for its era is that it wasn’t built to face the street as homes typically were then. It was built to face north and face the view out to Rangitoto, making it a very sunny and warm house.”
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It was created in an era of craftsmanship, its architecture centred around a generous north-facing terrace framed by two large bay windows, an elegant symmetrical form that remains today.
Its ballroom and large reception rooms later provided R&R for American servicemen stationed in Auckland during World War I. Post-war it became an early example of a grand villa thoughtfully transformed into a home and flats, later serving as the Swedish Consulate, before Wendy and Roger purchased.
Wendy says: “My parents had a home and income so that was something I was familiar with and liked the idea of – effectively generating income while you sleep.”
The immaculately presented kitchen-dining room opens to a small covered front deck. Photo / Supplied
A zen-style front garden with water feature and rear terraced gardens create a perfect retreat. Photo / Supplied
The main residence has three bedrooms, three bathrooms - two of the bedrooms are ensuites, a study with separate access, multiple living areas and parking for three vehicles. Photo / Supplied
They upgraded the villa, removing not-in-keeping modifications such as lowered ceilings. They evolved it into a home plus three flats – two two-bedroom and one one-bedroom, all with their own entrances and their own dedicated outdoor areas.
The couple have enjoyed the conviviality of the set-up, sometimes invited to dinner parties hosted by tenants they’ve long remained friends with. One tenant lived here for 17 years.
Wendy says: “But with the separate entrances on different sides of the house you can go for periods without seeing anyone, so it’s not like you feel like you’re living on top of one other.”
People marvel over the quietness of their location between Alberon Reserve and Scarborough Reserve, yet Parnell Road’s bustling cafes and restaurants are only a short walk away.
They’re zoned for Parnell School and double grammar, handy to the Auckland Domain, Newmarket and the CBD. Despite saying they’re now too old to be going up ladders they’ll happily leap on to e-scooters to get to the central city.
The main home has retained many original character features such as soaring ceilings, pressed tin and big sash windows. Photo / Supplied
The three flats comprise two two-bedroom units and one one-bedroom unit, all with their own entrances and their own dedicated outdoor areas. Photo / Supplied
A zen-style front garden with water feature and rear terraced gardens create a sense of retreat. Original character features such as soaring ceilings, some of pressed tin, and big sash windows grace the main home spreading across two levels.
A terrace announces its upper-level entrance introducing three bedrooms, two of them ensuited. A living room neighbours an immaculately presented kitchen-dining room opening to a small covered front deck.
They love sitting here, basking in the sun and admiring the view out to Rangitoto. Downstairs are a large study, the third bathroom, and their internal-access garage. One of the flats incorporates an internal-access tandem garage and there are five off-street parks.
After more than three decades here they’ve decided it’s time to live footloose and fancy free, somewhere Roger can easily swim in the sea.
Agent Silvia Poletti says: “This is an extremely rare find in Parnell, a beautifully renovated grand old villa built for the sun and views, encompassing the main home and three flats with separate entrances and their own outdoor living.”
37 St Georges Bay Road in Parnell, Auckland, is for sale by negotiation.
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